Message announcement apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method providing repetitive delivery of recorded messages composed of several separate message segments which are serially delivered. A composite message is provided by serial delivery of individual message segments which have an extent of overlap in message segment delivery time, so that an end portion of a message segment and a beginning portion of the next sequential message segment are concurrently recorded on a message recording medium. A message delivery circuit switches from delivery of the one message segment to delivery of the next sequential message segment during the period of concurrent message overlap, so that possible noise occurring at the beginning or end of the message segments is excluded from the delivered composite message. Part or all of a new composite message can be supplied from a remote location for recording and subsequent playback delivery by the present apparatus, and the apparatus can provide delivery of a predetermined shortened message component in response to certain signal conditions. Multiple announcement delivery phases are provided from a single set of message announcement segments, and each message phase can be selectively shortened in response to a single message length apparatus.

[ 1 June 10, 1975 MESSAGE ANNOUNCEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD Walter P.Walker, Atlanta, Ga.

The Audichron Company, Atlanta, Ga.

Filed: Apr. 18, 1974 Appl. No.: 461,894

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

C, 1 SW; 340/147 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1966Robitaille 179/1001 PS 3/1972 Gaon et a1. 360/12 10/1973 Smith et a1360/12 11/1973 Lougeay et al 179/1001 PS Primary Examiner-Alfred H.Eddleman 5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus and method providing repetitive deliveryof recorded messages composed of several separate message segments whichare serially delivered. A composite message is provided by serialdelivery of individual message segments which have an extent of overlapin message segment delivery time, so that an end portion of a messagesegment and a beginning portion of the next sequential message segmentare concurrently recorded on a message recording medium. A messagedelivery circuit switches from delivery of the one message segment todelivery of the next sequential message segment during the period ofconcurrent message overlap, so that possible noise occurring at thebeginning or end of the message segments is excluded from the deliveredcomposite message. Part or all of a new composite message can besupplied from a remote location for recording and subsequent playbackdelivery by the present apparatus, and the apparatus can providedelivery of a predetermined shortened message component in response tocertain signal conditions. Multiple announcement delivery phases areprovided from a single set of message announcement segments, and eachmessage phase can be selectively shortened in response to a singlemessage length apparatus.

20 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures TRACK 15' iv. WPHASE A CP MULTIPLE TRACK 2{a PLAYBACK PHASE 5 T0 MESSAGE l7 MESSAGE TRACK 33 i CONTROL DELIVERYme-PHAsE C CIRCUITS TRACKS TRACK 4:, (FIGS. Sand e) PHASE D TIMINGPULSES MSG. FIGS.

CONTROL .Qr- -DEDICATED LINE MESSAGE (FIG' 7) LENGTH CONTROL (FIG 81 I23 22 TELCO TRAFFIC LOAD PATENTEDJUH 1 I975 ncn DEDICATED LINE FlGlSHEET l6 l l9 TRACK u: PHASE MULTIPLE TRACK l gga PHASE |7\ MESSAGETRACK 5 p AsE TRACKS TRACK (F 58nd 5) PHASE L! A TIMING 2o PULSES FIGSERASE RECORD CONTROL (FIG. 7) MESSAGE LENGTH CONTROL FIG 83 as TELCOTRAFFIC LOAD TIMING PULSES FIG 2 SHEET PATENTEHJUHIO I975 TIMING PULSE(TP) OSCILLATOR Y TIMING PULSES IO-ms TP- l TPS | l l I 280 350 420 490560 6 TIME IN MILLISECONDS \ll'lllll I I I I l l l l l l l l l I I lilo"FIG 4 MESSAGE ANNOUNCEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD V This inventionrelates in general to a system for delivering message announcements, andmore particularly relates to apparatus and method for'providingrepetitive delivery of recorded messages of a general nature.

Various types of message announcement systems, machines, and methods areknown in the prior art. Message announcement apparatus, as the term isused herein, refers generally to apparatus which repetitively deliversone or more messages which have previously been recorded on a recordingmedium associated with the apparatus. Various types of apparatus fordelivering recorded message announcements are frequently used inconjunction with telephone subscriber circuits, so that anyone dialing acertain telephone number is connected by the telephone central officeswitching equipment to a subscriber trunk to receive the recordedannouncement.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that such message announcementapparatus may be used in association with a number of telephone trunkcircuits, and that more than one calling party may be concurrentlyconnected to receive a particular delivered message from the messageannouncement apparatus.

The message delivery apparatus of the prior art has generally beendesigned either for the delivery of specialized types of messages (e.g.,time-of-day, or weather), or for the delivery of general-purposemessages. It should be understood that a general-purpose messageannouncement apparatus is readily usable to deliver a recorded messagepertaining to weather conditions, for example, and that special-purposeweather announcement apparatus refers to apparatus of the kind which mayhave preprogrammed announcement segments corresponding to predeterminedtypes of weather forecast conditions. While the general-purpose messageannouncement apparatus of the prior art is satisfactory for someapplications, the cost and/or alternative operating limitations of theequipment has tended to limit the acceptance and general utility of suchequipment. The general-purpose message announcing systems of the priorart have generally involved a compromise between cost and features suchas maximum message length and various accessory features, with extendedmessage length being available only on equipment which has been tooexpensive for many potential users.

It has been proposed in the art to provide a message announcement byserially delivering several message segments, so that the messagesegments could be received as a composite message consisting of thesegments. Because of the precise timing required to switch from the endof a message segment to the beginning of the next segment, each messagesegment was required to contain a complete sentence or other messageportion; a unitary message longer than the length ofa single messagesegment could not be delivered with acceptable clarity and absence ofnoise during transfer between message segments.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved message announcement system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand method for providing a composvide apparatus and method forsubstantially noisefree serial delivery of composite message segmentswhich may include noise at the ends of the message segments.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide messageannouncement apparatus and method for recording and subsequentlydelivering messages of variable length.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, including the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the operative interrelation ofcomponents of a message announcement system according to the disclosedembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the individual messagesegments and corresponding timing pulses associated with the disclosedembodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of apparatus for generating the timingpulses utilized in the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows the timing relationship between the several timing pulsesprovided by the disclosed embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the message playback apparatus fordelivering a single message announcement phase, according to thedisclosed embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of apparatus for providing additionalmessage announcement phases according to the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the erase and record control apparatusaccording to the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the message length control portion ofthe disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of messagelength control apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of apparatus for recording selectedportions of a composite message from different message sources,according to an alternative embodiment of the present message system.

Stated in general terms, the system of the present invention provides amultiple number of individual message segments that are available forrecording a composite message of maximum length approximately equal tothe summation of the individual message segment lengths. Each messagesegment may be provided on a separate message track of a commonrecording medium, so that playback of the several individual messagesegments occurs concurrently. A composite message is provided byserially delivering each of the message segments in predeterminedsequence, and a number of separate identical messages or message phasesthat are mutually offset in time can be delivered with appropriateswitching. A terminal portion of each message segment is recordedsynchronously with an initial portion of the next message segment, sothat serial switching between adjacent message tracks can occur at anypoint during the concurrent portions of the serial message segments.Timing means are provided which divide the message segments into apredetermined number of time intervals, and a memory means remembers thetime interval corresponding with the end of a a dedicated telephone line21. The record control ap- ,paratus provides both erase signals and newmessage following description of the disclosed embodiment.

The disclosed embodiment operationally comprises a number of separatesubsystems as shown in FIG. 1.. Individual message segments of somepredetermined maximum duration are recorded and played back on multipletrack message apparatus 15, which can be any apparatus operable toprovide repetitive playback of plural message segments in apredeterminedtime sequence. The message apparatus in the disclosedembodiment is capable of recording and playing back a maximum of fourseparate message segments, with each individual message segment beingidentified hereinafter as track 1, track 2, and so on, and beingprovided on separate message segment track lines collectively denoted at16 on FIG. 1. The message apparatus 15 also operates to provide aperiodic control signal at a predetermined point in each repetitivemessage delivery cycle; this periodic control signal, known hereafter asa control pulse CP, is supplied along the line 17 to the timing pulseapparatus 18.

A specific example of apparatus which may be utilized as the messageapparatus 15 is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,637, entitled AnnouncingSystem. The announcing system of that patent has an endless beltrecording medium and provides separate parallel message tracks on whichcan be recorded the separate message segments; the messages on eachtrack of the recording belt are recorded, played, and erased withappropriate transducing heads associated with each track. A switchsenses the passage of an indicium formed in the message belt, from whichis established the control pulse CP corresponding to each revolution ormessage delivery cycle of the message belt. It will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the present invention is not confined to amessage apparatus as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.3,787,637, and that other announcing apparatus utilizing recording mediasuch as drums, discs, or tapes may alternatively be provided. It ispreferable, however, that the message apparatus 15 contain each of theseparate message segments on a unitary recording medium, or that theapparatus alternatively provide for accurate synchronism between eachand every message segment, for reasons which will become apparenthereinafter.

Each of the message segment track lines is supplied to the playbackcontrol apparatus 19, which sequentially operates in a manner describedbelow to select the message segments delivered on the individual messagetrack and to provide separate identical composite messages which areidentified as phase A, phase B," and so on. The composite messages areavailable for delivery to suitable message delivery circuits, which aretypically interconnected with telephone central office switchingequipment; details of such delivery circuits are known to those skilledin the art and need not be described herein.

The message segments on some or all of the individual message tracks ofthe message apparatus 15 can be erased and provided with newly recordedmessages from the record control apparatus 20, which may be connected toreceive an incoming message dictated on signals to the message apparatus15.

The message length control apparatus 22, which is interconnected withboth the playback control apparatus l9 and the record control apparatus20, provides a memory function which remembers the'maximum duration ofthe composite message recorded on the message apparatus 15, and monitorsthe duration of each message playback cycle to terminate the playbackcycle when the recorded message has been delivered.

The message length control also can operate to terminate delivery of ashortened message at a predetermined intermediate point, in response toa traffic load signal condition on the line 23. Message AnnouncementDelivery FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the relative messagedelivery times of the four message segment tracks used in the disclosedillustrative embodiment. It will be realized by those skilled in the artthat the use of four message tracks in the disclosed embodiment is onlya matter of choice, and that the apparatus and method of the presentinvention is readily adaptable to a number of message segments eithergreater or less than four. The message segment tracks are depicted inFIG. 2 as concentric circles bearing the respective legends track 1,track 2, and so on. Each of the message segment tracks depicted in FIG.2 may correspond with a particular track on a recording medium, such asthe magnetic recording belt described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat.No. 3,787,637, and it will be understood that the total length of eachof the four message segment tracks is preferably identical. Each of themessage segment tracks has a maximum duration of 14 seconds, in aspecific embodiment of the present invention.

A composite message announcement is provided by switching between themessage segments at certain times during a switching period indicated at26 on FIG. 2. The switching period 26 is divided into nine timing pulsesserially designated as TP-l, TP-2, TP-9. The relative extent of theswitching period 26 is graphically exaggerated in FIG. 2 forillustrative purposes; each timing pulse can have a duration in theorder of milliseconds, with the overall nine-pulse switching period 26having a total duration of 630 milliseconds compared to the l4-secondtotal length of each message segment track. The timing pulses aregenerated once for each repetitive delivery cycle of the messagesegments contained on the several tracks, and it is important that theswitching period defined by the timing pulses consistently commence atthe same predetermined time relative to the message segments recorded onthe tracks. The timing pulses can be provided by a circuit as shown inFIG. 3, where a timing pulse oscillator 27 operates in response to acontrol pulse (CP) trigger to provide consecutive 70-millisecond timingpulses on the nine separate outputs of the oscillator. The control pulseCP may be provided to the timing pulse oscillator 27 by a switch 28which provides a control pulse once for each revolution of a messagebelt 29 (or other recording medium). It will be 'understood that theswitch 28 is actuated by an indicium at a certain predetermined point ineach cycle of the message belt 29, and that the oscillator 27 operatesin response to actuation of the switch to deliver the nine consecutivetiming pulses.

The duration and relative occurrence of the several timing pulses aregraphically depicted in FIG. 4. It will be seen that the duration of thecontrol pulse need not be less than the duration of a timing pulse,since the timing pulse oscillator 27 of the disclosed embodimentcommences operating in response to the leading edge of the control pulseprovided in response to operation of the switch 28. After the finaltiming pulse TP-9 is provided, the oscillator 27 awaits the next controlpulse to commence another sequence of timing pulses.

The playback control portion of the disclosed embodiment is firstdescribed with respect to a typical delivery sequence of a compositemessage announcement. It is assumed in the following description ofplayback control that the composite message is divided into four messagesegments, and that each message segment has been recorded on acorresponding one of the four message segment tracks. The initialsegment of the message is recorded on track 1, commencing at a tracklocation corresponding to timing pulse TP-8 and progressing in thedirection indicated by the arrow 30 in FIG. 2. The message segment ontrack 1 thus starts at TP-9 on an initial revolution of the recordingmedium, and terminates at TP-8 at the next revolution of the messagebelt. The next segment of the composite message is contained on track 2,commencing at TP-6. For the two-pulse interval extending between TP-6and TP-8, an identical message portion is recorded on track 1 and track2; that is, the terminal portion of the message on track 1, extendingfrom TP-6 to TP-8, is identical in content and timing with the initialportion of the message segment on track 2, commencing at TP-6 Themessage segment on track 2 has a possible duration extending to TP-6 ofthe next or third revolution of the message belt. The message segment ontrack 3 commences at TP-4, however, with the identical message portionbeing on track 2 and track 3 for the twopulse interval commencing atTP-4 and ending at TP-6. In a similar manner, the recorded messagesegment on track 3 extends from TP-4 to TP-4 of the next revolution, andthe message segment on track 4 commences at TP-2 with an overlap of twotiming pulses between the start of the track 4 message segment and thetermination of the track 3 message segment.

It is thus seen that there is an interval of message segment overlapbetween each of the consecutive message segments recorded on the messagebelt or other recording medium. Each of the message segments isrepetitively delivered by rotation of the message belt relative to aseparate transducer head associated with a corresponding message track.Since the identical message portion is contained on track 1 and track 2for the interval between TP-6 and TP-8, it will be seen that the messageannouncement circuit can be switched from track 1 to track 2 at any timeduring the interval of concurrent delivery, without requiring switchingbetween message segments at a precisely predetermined time. Since themessage segments recorded on the several tracks not infrequently includeunwanted noise at the beginning and end of each recorded messagesegment, arising from such transient recording conditions as signalswitching, raising and lowering of recording heads, and the like, itwill be seen that switching between consecutive message segmentspreferably occurs, during the identical message, at a time when thefollowing message segment (on track 2, for example) has alreadycommenced but before the ending message segment (on track 1, forexample) terminates. It is thus seen that delivery of a compositemessage announcement is accomplished by serial sequential playback ofthe message segments which are individually delivered in substantialparallelism.

An embodiment of playback control apparatus for compiling one phase of acomposite message consisting of the several message segments is shown inFIG. 5. It is assumed for the illustrative embodiment that there is aseparate message playback transducer corresponding to each of the fourmessage segment tracks; these separate transducers are designated onFIG. 5 as PB-l, PB-2, PB-3, and PB-4. Each of the four playbacktransducers repetitively delivers a message segment signal.corresponding to the message segment recorded on the correspondingmessage track, to a separate message segment track line MS-l, MS-2,MS-3, and MS-4. The message segment track lines extend to the multipleannouncement phase apparatus shown in FIG. 6 and described in furtherdetail hereinbelow. The playback apparatus depicted in FIG. 5 delivers acomposite message known as the phase A message.

The playback control apparatus for phase A includes a message trackcounter 34 in the form of a shift register having at least one outputposition in excess of the total number of message segment tracks. Themessage track counter 34 receives shift signals from the OR gate 35,which provides a shift signal in response to an input from any one ofthe AND gates 36, 37, 38, and 39. The output from AND gate 36 is alsosupplied along the line 40 to the set input of a flip-flop 41, for apurpose described hereinafter.

The output line 1 of the message track counter 34 is connected to gatethe message segment amplifier 42A which receives a message input fromthe message segment line MS-l. The output lines 2, 3, and 4 of themessage track counter 34 are correspondingly connected to gate themessage segment amplifiers 43A, 44A, and 45A, respectively connected toreceive the message segments delivered on tracks 2, 3, and 4. Each ofthe message segment amplifiers 42A-45A is turned on by the respectiveoutputs of the counter 34 to connect the corresponding message segmentline to the emplifier 46, the output of which provides the phase Acomposite message for any suitable message delivery circuit.

The AND gate 36 is connected to receive the signal on the zero outputline of the message track counter 34, and is also connected through theline 50 to receive an input whenever the timing pulse TP-9 is present,assuming that the AND gate 51 is also receiving an appropriate inputfrom the inhibit flip-flop 52. The AND gate 37 is connected to outputline 1 of the counter 34, and TP-7. The AND gate 38 is connected to theoutput line 2 of the counter 34, and TP-S. Finally, the AND gate 38 isconnected to output line 3 of the counter 34, and TP-3.

A typical playback sequence for a complete composite message is nowdescribed, with the assumption that the message track counter 34 hasbeen previously reset to provide a signal at the zero output line andthat a control pulse condition is applied by the switch 28 to the timingpulse generator 27 to initiate delivery of a train of timing pulses.Only the AND gate 36, of the AND gate 36-39, is receiving an inputsignal from the message track counter 34 at this time, and so thecounter first receives a shift pulse at TP-9. The message track counter34 shifts to provide a signal on output line 1, gating on the messagesegment amplifier 42A and allowing the start on the track 1 messagesegment to be delivered to the message amplifier 46. None of the othermessage segment amplifiers 43A-45A is gated on at this time, and so themessage segments on the other three tracks are not supplied to the phaseA message amplifier 46 at this time.

When the message track counter 34 shifted to its line 1 output, thesignal on message track counter line zero was removed from the AND gate36 and the line 1 signal was supplied to the AND gate 37. Delivery ofthe first message segment continues as the message belt 29 moves pastthe playback heads until the switch 28 again triggers the timing pulsegenerator 27 to provide another train of timing pulses. The messagetrack counter is shifted to output line 2 in response to TP-7 applied toAND gate 37, the only one of the four AND gates 36-39 presentlyreceiving an enabling output signal from the message track counter. Whenthe counter 34 switches from output line 1 to output line 2, the messagesegment amplifier 42A is gated off and the message segment amplifier 43Ais concurrently gated on. Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be seenthat the transfer from delivery of the track 1 message segment todelivery of the track 2 message segment occurred at TP-7, or midway inthe period of identical-message overlap of track 1 and track 2. It willbe seen, accordingly, that the aforementioned message changeoveroccurred after any start-up noise associated with the beginning messageon track 2, but before the occurrence of any noise associated with thetermination of the recorded message on track 1.

Shifting of the message track counter 34 to the output line 2 causes theAND gate 38'to receive an enabling input, and it will be understood thatthe message track counter is next shifted in response to TP- of the nexttrain of timing pulses. Shifting of the message track counter to theoutput line 3, occuring at TP-S, causes message segment transfer fromtrack 2 to track 3 at the midpoint of the concurrent-message portion ofsuch tracks. The signal on the output line 3 of the message trackcounter 34 is applied as an enabling input to the AND gate 39, so thatTP-3 of the next-occurring train of timing pulses causes the messagetrack counter 34 to shift to output line 4 at the midpoint of theconcurrent-message overlap of tracks 3 and 4.

The output line 4 signal from the message track counter 34 is alsosupplied as an input to the OR gate 53, thereby enabling the reset ANDgate 54. The OR gate 53 is also connected to receive signals from thetrack output lines 2 and 3 of the message track counter 34, throughmomentary pulse circuits 55 and 56; at no time presently considered,however, has the OR gate 53 operated to provide a logic input to thereset AND gate 54 concurrent with occurrence of a timing pulse TP-l. Thepulse circuits 55 and 56 are any suitable circuits which provide amomentary pulse in response to a steady-state input, and it will beunderstood that a conventional RC circuit can be so utilized.

Delivery of the fourth and final message segment continues untiloccurrence of the first timing pulse TP-l of the next train of timingpulses, whereupon TP-l applied to the reset AND gate 54 along with theoutput from the OR gate 53 applied a reset pulse to reset the messagetrack counter 34 to output zero. The message segment amplifier 45A isgated off at this time, the AND gate 36 is again supplied with anenabling signal from the outputv line zero of the message track counter.34, and the counter 34 is again ready to be shifted to output line 1 inresponse to TP-' 7 of the same timing pulse train which initiated resetof the counter 34. The flip-slop 41 is set by an output on the line 40,at the same time that the message track counter 34 is shifted to track 1and the phase A message delivery commences. This set output of theflip-flop 41 remains on the output line 57 from the flip-flop duringdelivery of the entire phase A composite message, and the set signalfrom the flip-flop may be used to initiate switching ofannouncement-receiving circuits or for any other appropriate purpose.The flip-flop 41 is reset by the counter reset signal supplied along theline 58, concurrent with reset of the message track counter to the zerooutput line, thus signaling that the delivery of the complete phase Acomposite message is ended.

It is seen from the foregoing that the delivery of a complete compositemessage occurs over four complete revolutions of the message belt 29, sothat a composite message having a miximum length of four times thelength of the message segments is available. In the case of 14-secondmessage segments, accordingly, it is possible to provide anuninterrupted unitary composite message of up to approximately 56seconds, without interruption or pauses in message delivery at theseveral transfers between message segments.

Since each individual message track is utilized only once duringdelivery of a complete composite message, additional composite messagephases may be provided utilizing the same message apparatus 15 andtiming pulse apparatus 18 used for the phase A message. The apparatusfor providing three additional phases of composite messages is shown onFIG. 6, and includes separate message track counters 62, 63, and 64corresponding with each of the additional phases B, C, and D. Each ofthe message track counters 62, 63, and 64 can be provided by afive-position shift register in the manner of the message track counter34 for phase A, with output lines 1 through 4 gating message segmentamplifiers for corresponding message tracks and with a zero output linesupplied to enable an AND gate which is also responsive to timing pulseTP--9.

The phase B message track counter 62 receives shift inputs through theOR gate 65, which receives inputs from four AND gates corresponding(except as noted below) in function and in inputs to the AND gates 36-39associated with phase A. Only the AND gate 66 which receives timingpulse TP-9 is shown in FIG. 6, however, since that AND gate alsoreceives an enabling input along the line 67, supplied from output line2 of the phase A message track counter 34.

A typical playback sequence for phase B is now considered, with thephase B message trackcounter 62 assumed to be reset to provide an outputsignal on the zero output line. It is also assumed at this time that thephase A message track counter 34 is also reset to provide an outputsignal at its zero output line, so thatthe next-occurring timing pulseTP-9 shifts the phase A message track counter 34 to the output line 1.The phase B message counter 62 cannot shift at this time, however, sincethe absence of an enabling logic signal on line 67 to the AND gate 66prevented ,TP-9 from shifting the phase B'counter 62. After the track 1message segment is delivered in phase A, the phase A message trackcounter 34 is shifted to output line 2 in response to timing pulse TP-7.The signal on output line 2 of counter 34 is immediately applied alongline 67 to enable the AND gate 66, so that the following timing pulseTP-9 causes the phase B message track counter 62 to shift to its outputline 1. The message segment amplifier 42B is gated on at this time,allowing the track 1 message segment signal on the message segment lineMS-l to be supplied to the phase B message amplifier 67. The phase Bmessage counter 62 is stepped through the three remaining track outputs,in a manner identical to the operation of the phase A message trackcounter 34 described above, and the phase B message track counter isreset to zero at the end of the track 4 message segment in the mannerdescribed above with respect to phase A. The flip-flop 68 is set andreset at the beginning and the end, respectively, of the phase Bcomposite message for use in message announcement switching circuitry asrequired.

It will now be understood that the phase B composite message lags behindthe phase A message by one repetitive message delivery cycle of themessage belt 29, since the phase B message track counter 62 is enabledto shift to its output line 1 only after the phase A message trackcounter 34 has shifted to its output line 2. The phase C message trackcounter 63 similarly lags one cycle behind the composite message pfphase B, inasmuch as an enabling signal supplied on line 72 from outputline 2 of the phase B message track counter is required to enable theAND gate 73 to shift the phase C message track counter 63 to its track 1output, at timing pulse TP-9.

The phase D message track counter 64 likewise lags one cycle behind thephase C composite message, inasmuch as the AND gate 74 must receive anenabling signal on line 75 from output line 2 of thhe phase C messagetrack counter 63 before the phase D message track counter can shift toits output line 1 in response to a timing pulse TP-9.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the disclosedembodiment of apparatus as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 delivers acomposite message for each repetitive operating cycle of the messageapparatus 15. The provision of multiple announcement phases allowspersons awaiting delivery of a complete message totaling, for example,56 seconds duration, to wait for maximum of 14 seconds before beingconnected to receive a complete composite message. The four-phase systemin the disclosed embodiment thus provides an average waiting time of 7seconds for connection to the commencement of a complete compositemessage, so that listeners need not be subjected to prolonged waitingtimes or to annoying barge-in connection with an ongoing message.

Change of Recorded Message Although the composite message available fordelivery from the message belt 29 can be changed from time to time bysubstituting a new message belt in the message apparatus 15, many usersof the present message announcement equipment prefer the convenience ofthedirect message changing capability provided by the present apparatusand shown with regard to FIG. 7 of the disclosed embodiment. A privatemessage line is preferably made available for delivering the new messageto the apparatus, and the private line may preferably be theaforementioned dedicated telephone line 21 which is connected to thepresent apparatus so that hookswitch signaling is available. Thededicated line 21 is connected to hook-switch detector apparatus 80which provides output signal conditions as described below in responseto the on-hook or off-hook status of the dedicated line.

Since the entire existing message recorded on each of the messagesegment tracks must be initially erased before a new message can berecorded, each message track on the message belt 29 is provided with aseparate )erase head [5-], E2, E-3, and E4. Each of the erase heads isselectively connectable to a suitable erase signal provided by the eraseoscillator 81, upon closure of the corresponding erase switches ES-l,ES-2, ES-3, and ES-4. Each message segment track is also associated witha separate record transducer R-l, R-2, R-3, and R4. Those skilled in theart of magnetic recording will realize that the functions of playbackand record are frequently combined in a single transducer head, and sothe aforementioned record transducers can in fact be provided by theplayback transducers PB-l. .PB-4 depicted in FIG. 5. It will beunderstood that suitable switching will, in such case, be required toisolate the incoming message signals during the record operation, fromthe message segment lines normally connected with the transducers duringplayback operation.

Control of message erasure is provided by the erase counter 82, whichmay be provided by a five-position shift register similar to theaforementioned message track counters. The shift input of the erasecounter 82 is provided from the OR gate 83, which receives outputsignals from each of the two-input AND gates 84, 85, 86, and 87. Thefour AND gates 84-87 are respectively connected to receive an input fromeach of output lines 1-4 of the erase counter 82, in the mannerdescribed above with respect to the message track counters. The AND gate84 also receives timing pulse TP-8, while the gates 85, 86, and 87 arerespectively connected to receive timing pulses TP-6, TP-4, and TP-Z.Although the erase operation is described in detail below, it will beapparent that the erase counter 82 sequentially shifts through its fiveoutput lines in response to occurrence of the appropriate timing pulseinputs to an AND gate 84-87 which is also receiving the proper enablinginput from the erase counter. Each output signal from the OR gate 83 issupplied through the AND gate 89 to shift the erase counter 82, providedthat the AND gate 89 is concurrently receiving an enabling signal on theline 91 as described below.

Recording of new message segments on the several tracks is accomplishedat the control of the record counter 92, which may also be afive-position shift register. The record counter 92 is shifted inresponse to signals applied through the OR gate 93 from one of the fourAND gates 94, 95, 96, and 97, provided that the shift signal from the ORgate 93 is not inhibited by the absence of a record enable signalsupplied by the line to the AND gate 98. Each of the AND gates 94-97 isrespectively connected to receive signals on the output lines l-4 of therecord counter 92, and each of such AND gates is also respectivelyconnected to receive timing pulses TP-8, TP-6, TP-4, and TP-Z. The ANDgate 94 is a 3-input gate, the third input of which is connected by theline 99 to output line 2 of the erase counter 82. It will thus be seenthat operation of the record counter 92 is inhibited until the erasecounter 82 is shifted to provide an output on output line 2.

The remainder of the erase-record structure depicted in FIG. 7 isdescribed in connection with the description of a typical sequence ofevents involved in placing a new message on the apparatus. As long asthe dedicated line 21 remains on-hook, the absence of an output signalon the line 103 from the hook-switch detector 80 prevents the cyclecounter 104 from receiving will be understood below, and theerase-record apparatus is thus inhibited from functioning. Messageplayback continues at this time, in the manner described above. l

Assume now that the dedicated line 21 becomes offhook, indicating that aperson desires to dictate a new message on the dedicated line forsubstitution with the present message recorded on the message apparatus15. In response to off-hook status, the hook switch detector 80 places alogic signal on the line 103 which combines in the AND gate 105 with theinverted absence of a record enable signal on the line 90 to gate on theplayback-review switch 106. The playbackreview switch is connected toreceive the phase A composite message (provided by the apparatus shownin FIG. and supplies this message along lines 107 and 108 to thededicated line 21. The person listening on the dedicated line thusreceives barge-in connection to listen to the phase A composite message.At the end of the phase A composite message, the AND gate 109 is enabledby the phase A reset signal supplied on the line 110, thus providing ashift signal which shifts the 3- position cycle counter 104 from thezero position to the one" position. The phase A composite message isthen repeated in its entirety, in normal playback operation, so that theperson listening on the dedicated line next hears a complete phase Amessage. At the end of the complete phase A message, the AND gate 109 isagain enabled and the cycle counter 104 is shifted to its two positionto provide a record enable signal on the line 90. The inverted recordenable signal immediately gates the switch 106 off, so that thededicated line 21 no longer receives the phase A message. The recordcontrol apparatus is now ready to commencce the erase-record operation.

It will be recalled that the phase A reset signal was provided inresponse to timing pulse TP-l; timing pulse TP-8 of the same train oftiming pulses causes the AND gate 84 to provide a shift pulse shiftingthe erase counter 82 from the zero output line :to output line 1. Outputline 1 of erase counter 82 is applied on line 111 to set the inhibitflip-flop 52 (FIG. 5), thereby removing an input from the AND gate 51and inhibiting the operation of the phase A message trackcounter 34.Since the phase B message is inhibited from starting until after track 1of the phase A message is completed, it is seen that the inhibit signalon the line 111 effectively inhibits all message delivery phases. Theinhibit signal on line 111 is also applied along line 112 to the ANDgate 113, causing the switch 114 to be gated on and connecting thededicated line 21 with an erase signal tone 115, thus advising theperson listening on the dedicated line that message segment track 1 isbeing erased. The listening person is advised by the commencement of theerase signal tone that he has 14 seconds (the length of a messagesegment, in the disclosed embodiment) before he should commencedictating a new message, l a

When the erase counter 82 shifted to output line 1 at TI -.8, the track1 erase flip-flop 1.19 was set to provide a signal gating the eraseswitch ES-l to the closed position, allowing the erase transducer- 5-1to receive an erase signal from the oscillator 81. The erasure ofmessage track 1 thus commences at time TP-8.

The next train of timing pulses, produced after one complete cycle ofthe message belt 29, causes the erase counter 82 to shift at TP-6 tooutput line 2, thereby setting the erase flip-flop and gating closed theerase switch ES-2 to commence erasing track 2, Output 2 of the erasecounter 82 is also connected to the AND gate 123 to enable the eraseflip-flop 119 to be reset at TP-8, so that erasure. of track 1terminates two timing pulses after erasure of track 2 commences. It willbe understood that overlapping erasure of contiguous message tracks isnecessary to erase the overlapping message portions previously recordedthereon.

The inhibit signal was removed from the line 111 when the erase counter82 shifted from output line 1 to output line 2, with the resultthat theswitch 142 is gated open and the erase signal tone is removed from thededicated line 21. The inhibit flip-flop 52 has not received a resetsignal at this time, however, and so the message delivery phases remaininhibited from operation.

It will be recalled that the erase counter 82 shifted to position 2 attime TP-6, thereby placing an enable signal along the line 92 to theflip-flop 94 associated with the record counter 92. At time TP-8,occurring two timing pulses later, the AND gate 94 provides a signalshifting the record counter 92 to the line one output position whereuponthe record flip-flop 124 becomes set and gates the record switch RS-lclosed. The track 1 record transducer R-l is now interconnected with thededicated line 21 by means of the line 108 and the line 128, so that anymessage dictated on the line 21 is now recorded on the. first track ofthe message belt 29.

At the conclusion of ,the message belt cycle during which track 2 isbeing erased and track 1 is being recorded, the erase counter 82 isshifted at time TP-4 to output line 3, setting the erase flip-flop 121to gate erase signals through the erase switch ES-3 to commence erasingtrack 3, and also enabling the AND gate 129 to allow the track 2 eraseflip-flop 120 to be reset in response to TP-6. Erasure of track 3 isthus commenced, and erasure of track 2 is terminated after another eraseoverlap of two timing pulses. The record counter 92 is shifted to outputline 2 by the same TP-6 that shifted the erase counter 82 to position 3.The record flip-flop is immediately set to gate the record switch RS-2closed so that the transducer R-2 is receiving the message dictated onthe dedicated line 21. The track 1 record switch RS-l is opened twotiming pulses later, when TP-8 is applied through the AND gate 130 toreset the record flip-flop 124. It will thus be understood that thedictated message is simultaneously recorded on track 1 and track 2 forthe period of two timing pulses, commencing at TP-6 and ending at TP-8,providing the necessary portion of message segment overlap describedabove with regard to playback operation.

It will now be understood-that the erase counter 82 and record'counter92: will be shifted in response to timing pulses generated at the end ofsubsequent cycles 'The phase A message track counter 34 is now enabledto commence delivery of the newly-recorded track 1 message segment,thereby minimizing the total time that the massage announcement deliveryfunction of the present apparatus is inoperative during newmessagerecording.

The erase operation is completed in response to tim ing pulse TP-lsupplied to the AND gate 134 at the end of the message cycle after theerase counter 82 was shifted to output line 4. The following timingpulse TP-2 resets the erase flip-flop 122, and concurrently shifts therecord counter 92 to output line 4 so that recording of track 4 isenabled by the record flip-flop 127 and the record switch RS-4. Theoutput line 4 signal from the record counter 92 is also supplied throughan inverter 135 to inhibit the AND gate 136 associated with the shiftinput of the erase counter 82, so that the erase counter is not shiftedby the subsequentlyoccurring timing pulse TP-8. The last segment of thenew message is now being recorded on message track 4.

At the end of the next cycle of the message belt, the record counter 92is reset in response to TP-l applied to the AND gate 137, and the resetsignal is also supplied along the line 138 to reset the cycle counter104. The entire erase-record cycle is now complete, and the personlistening on the dedicated line 21 can remain on the line to receiveplayback of the newly-dictated composite message delivered on phase A.It will also be understood that, by remaining on the dedicated line 21until the cycle counter 104 again shifts to position 2, thepreviously-dictated composite message may be re placed by yet anothermessage, should the dictator be dissatisfied with his previouslydictated message.

Message Length Control Although the above-described erase and recordingapparatus makes available the entire length of the composite message toreceive a new recorded message, the apparatus according to the presentinvention can also be used to record a message of duration which is lessthan the sum of the available message segments. Message length controlis accomplished with the present invention by dividing the duration ofeach repetitive message segment into a number of time segments,providing a memory capability for counting and remembering the maximumtime segment count when message recording is terminated, and thencounting the segments during subsequent playback operations to determinewhen the playback time segment count equals the previously rememberedrecord segment count. When the two segment counts are equal, thedelivered message is completed and the message playback can beimmediately reset to commence delivery of another composite message.

Message length control is provided in the disclosed embodiment with theapparatus shown in FIG. 8, and including a record segment counter 141and a playback segment counter 142. The time of each complete operatingcycle of the message belt 29, excluding the switching period 26 occupiedby the train of timing pulses, is divided into ten time segments ofequal duration, in the disclosed embodiment, although a greater orlesser number of time segments may alternatively be chosen. Since themessage belt 29 in the disclosed embodiment contains four messagetracks, the record segment counter 141 must be capable of rememberingthe time segment count at which the recorded message terminates, as wellas the particular message track. The record segment counter 141 thusincludes a tensegment counter 141a and a four-segment counter 141b, withthe shift input to the four-segment counter 1411) being connected to theten-count output of the segment counter 141a.

Further details of the message length control apparatus shown in FIG. 8are described along with the operating description which follows. Therecord segment counter 141 counts pulses selectively supplied by therecord oscillator 143, and the record oscillator of the disclosedembodiment operates at a rate providing ten output pulses during eachmessage track cycle (excluding the 640-millisecond switching period 26).Assuming that the record segment counter 14] is set to the zero-countstate and a message recording operation is commencing, shifting of therecord counter 92 to output line 1 (to initiate recording on track 1)also provides an enable signal along the line 144 to set the enableflip-flop 145, thereby applying an output signal to the AND gates 146and 154. The subsequently occurring timing pulse TP-9 is also applied tothe AND gate 146, causing the run flip-flop 147 to become set. The setoutput of the run flip-flop is applied on the line 148 to turn on therecord oscillator 143, so that the tensegment counter 141a commencesreceiving and counting oscillator pulses immediately after terminationof the timing pulse train which initiated recording of track 1.

The ten-segment counter 141a continues to count during recording of thenew message on track 1. Assuming that the new message is longer than themaximum length of track 1, the ten-segment counter reaches the ten-countand shifts the four-segment counter 14111 to its two-count state, beforethe first timing pulse TP-l of the next pulse train occurs. TP-l resetsthe run flip-flop 147 to disable the record oscillator 143 during theensuing timing pulse train, although it will be understood that messagerecording continues as described above. As soon as the final timingpulse TP-9 of the pulse train is supplied to the AND gate 146, however,the record oscillator 143 is again turned on and the ten-segment recordcounter 1410 again commences counting up to ten.

Assuming that the newly-recorded message is finished at time segment 4occurring during the recording of the second track, the person dictatingthe new message will normally hang up the dedicated line 21; thehook-switch detector senses the on-hook condition and applies a hookswitch interrupt signal on the line 149 to reset the enable flip-flop145, so that the run flip-flop 147 is reset through the OR gate 149. Therecord segment counter 141 thereafter remains at the previously-attainedcount, with the ten-segment counter 141a being at count four and withthe foursegment counter 14lb being at count two.

When the subsequent delivery of the newly recorded message announcementcommences at timing pulse TP-9, the playback run flip-flop 156 is set(in the inverted absence of an inhibit signal applied to the AND gate156 on the line 111) and the segment oscillator 143 commences deliveringsegment pulses through the AND gate 155 to the ten-count playbacksegment counter 142. A comparator circuit 159 receives the count signalsfrom both of the ten-count counters 141a and 142, and provides a signalcondition on the line 160 when the count on the playback segment counter142 equals the previously remembered count on the record segment counter141a. The count comparison signal on the line 160 is supplied throughthe OR gate 161 to reset the playback run flip-flop 156, and is alsoapplied along the line 162 to each of the message-length AND gates ML-l,ML-2, ML-3, and ML-4. The message-length AND gates are also individuallyconnected to receive the respective four output lines of the fourcountsegment counter 141b. The output of the message length gate ML-l issupplied to the inputs TP-l and TP-7 of the message track counters 34,62, 63, and 64 associated with each of the four composite messagephases. The message-length gate ML-2 similarly provides an output to theTP-S and TP-l inputs of the message track counters; the ML-3 gatesupplies an input signal to each of the TP-3 and TP-l input gates forthe message track counters; and the message-length gate ML-4 supplies aninput to the TP-l gates of such message counters.

The occurrence of a count comparison signal on the line 160, coincidentwith the signal supplied to the message-length gate ML-2 from thetwo-count output of the segment counter 141b, applies a TP-S pulse tothe AND gate 38 and a TP-l pulse to the AND gate 54 as sociated with thephase A playback apparatus depicted in FIG. 5. Since track 1 of thephase A composite message is currently being delivered, however, thephase A message track counter 34 is currently at output line 1 and theAND gate 38 is not receiving an enabling input necessary to shift thephase A message track counter in response to the TP-S pulse from themessage-length gate ML-2. Nothing happens at this time, accordingly, anddelivery of the track 1 message segment continues.

At the end of track 1 message segment delivery, the phase A messagetrack counter 34 is shifted to output line 2 as described above, so thatthe abbreviated message segment recorded on track 2 is now beingdelivered. The playback run flip-flop 156 is again set in response toTP-9, and the playback segment counter 142 (previously reset in responseto the count comparison signal on the line 160) again commences countingin response to the segment oscillator 143. The count comparator 159again provides a count comparison signal output on the line 160 when theplayback and record counts are equal, and the message-length gate ML-2again provides a TP-S pulse and a TP-l pulse to the phase A messagetrack counter 34 (as well as to the three additional message trackcounters). Since the phase A message track counter 34 is currently atoutput line 2, indicating that the shortened track 2 message is beingdelivered, the AND gate 38 provides a shift pulse to the counter 34 andthe counter 34 immediately shifts'to output line 3. Output line 3 issupplied to the pulse circuit 56, which provides a momentary pulsethrough the OR gate 53 to the AND gate 54. It will be remembered thatthe AND gate 54 is already receiving a TP-l signal from the messagelength gate ML-2, and so the phase A message track counter 34 is resetto the zero state. The phase A message track counter will shift to thetrack 1 state in response to the next-occurring timing pulse TP-9 fromthe timing pulse apparatus 18, whereupon delivery of anewphase A messagecommences.

It will be seen that the message length control apparatus shown in FIG.8 provides a message length control signal to each of the four messagephase counters, during each repetitive message delivery cycle of themessage belt 29. The message length signal contains information of thetime segment count and also of the track count in which the recordedmessage terminates, and only the one playback phase which is on theproper message track will be reset in response to the message lengthtrack control signal. Thus, a single message length apparatus as shownin FIG. 8 provides the message length control function for each of thefour composite message phases in the disclosed apparatus.

A variation of the message length apparatus which permits a compositemessage to be divided into two predetermined parts is shown in FIG. 8A.It is desired in certain applications, such as with message announcementapparatus used in conjunction with telephone central office facilities,to deliver a composite message which normally has a first duration andwhich can be shortened when the telephone trunk circuits associated withthe message announcement apparatus are all in use, or have reached apredetermined utilization factor. Referring to the erase-recordapparatus shown in FIG. 7, assume that the person dictating a newmessage over the dedicated line 21 has finished dictating a firstportion of a composite message. This first message portion mightconsist, for example, of a summary weather report. After he finishes thefirst message portion, the dictator momentarily depresses and thenreleases the hook switch on his telephone set. The two output lines 103and 149 of the hook-switch detector reacts differently to the momentaryon-hookcondition; the line 149 is immediately provided with an on-hooksignal condition in immediate response to the hook-switch closure on thededicated line 21, while the detector 80 provides the line 103 with aslow-release condition which ignores momentary hook-switch closure ofless than a predetermined minimum duration.

The momentary hook-switch closure at the end of the first messageportion, accordingly, provides a signal along the line 149 to reset theenable flip-flop 145, stopping the record segment counter 14.1 at a timesegment and message track count corresponding to the time at the end ofthe first message portion. The line 103 from the hook-switch detector 80does not receive an on-hook signal condition, in response to themomentary hook-switch operation, and so the erase-record operationcontinues.

A second message portion (for example, a detailed weather report) can bedictated on the remaining portion of the composite message length, andthe recording operation is terminated in the conventional manner byhanging up the dedicated line 21.

FIG. 8A shows those portionsof the message length apparatus of FIG. 8that are modified to allow message length shortening only in response toa traffic load signal on a line 23 supplied from the telephone centraloffice equipment. The apparatus necessary to generate traffic loadutilization signals in response to a predetermined utilization ofmaximum available trunk capacity is known to those skilled in the art.The count comparison line and the traffic load signal line 23 are bothconnected to the AND gate 164, so that the count comparison signal onthe line 160 can be supplied to the line 162 only in the concurrentpresence of an enabling traffic load signal on the line 23. During eachmessage playback cycle. a count comparison signal appears on the line160 when the count of the playback segment counter 142 arrives at thepreviously determined count on the segment counter 141a, correspondingwith the termination of the first message portion. The count comparisonsignal on the line 160 is prevented from appearing on the line 162, inthe absence ofa traffic load signal condition on the line 23, so thatthe message length gates ML-1,. ML-4 cannot provide the signalsnecessary to terminate message delivery in response to the countcomparison signal. As soon as an appropriate traffic load signalcondition is present on the line 23,

however. each message announcement provided by the apparatus will beterminated at the end of the previously selected first message portion.The traffic loadresponsive shortening of message length reduces theholding time for each telephone trunk circuit, thereby reducing theoverall trunk circuit load of the announcement apparatus and enabling agreater number of calling parties to receive the shortened message.

It is desired in some applications to limit the maximum possibleshortened duration of a first message portion, so that the purpose ofthe traffic loadresponsive message shortening system cannot be defeatedby someone who dictates his entire message without a momentaryhook-switch interruption. This maximum shortened duration function isillustrated in the present embodiment by the interconnection, shown inFIG. 8 at line 165, between the OR gate 166 of the reset input for theenable flip-flop 145, and a selected one of the output lines of thefour-segment counter 141b. If the line 165 is connected to the secondoutput of the counter 141b, for example, it will be seen that the signalcondition appearing on this second output line upon termination ofrecording message track 2 is applied on the line 165 to reset the enableflip-flop 145, thereupon terminating further operation of the segmentoscillator 143 and the record segment counter 141. The remainder of thenew message is recorded on the remaining two message tracks. Subsequentplayback of the new message occurs in the normal manner unless a trafficload signal is received on the line 23, whereupon the count comparisonsignal occurring on the line 160 is gated onto the line 162; this countcomparison signal is gated through the message length gate ML-2 toterminate the message announcement at the end of message track 2 (28seconds in the disclosed embodiment). It will be apparent that the line165 could alternatively be connected to another one of the outputs fromthe four-segment counter 141b, so as to define a different maximumlength of the short message.

Multiple Recording Sources The control logic of the present messageannouncement apparatus is readily adaptable to alternative erase-recordcontrol apparatus depicted in FIG. 9, which is used in association withtwo separate dedicated lines to provide the capability of enabling afirst message track (or group of tracks) to receive new messages onlyfrom a first dedicated line, while another message track (or group oftracks) can receive a new message from only a separate dedicated line.The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 may be useful, for example, where a firstmessage track or tracks are intended to receive a commercial message andwhere the remaining message tracks are intended to receive a utilitymessage such as a weather report or the like. The first tracks couldthus be connected to receive incoming messages from a first dedicatedline available to the sponsor of the message announcement service, whilethe remaining message trunks could be connected to receive incomingmessages from a dedicated line available to the weather bureau.

Turning to FIG. 9, the erase counter 111 and record counter 92 showntherein are identical with the corresponding elements shown in FIG. 7.Moreover, counter shifting gates, erase logic, record logic, and otherelements shown in FIG. 7 are understood to be similarly required for thenecessary operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9, but are omittedfrom FIG. 9 for clarity of illustration. The apparatus shown in FIG. 9is essen' tially that apparatus which is required for erasing andrecording of message track 1 in response to the first dedicated line170, and for erasing and recording on message tracks 2-4 in response tothe second dedicated line 171. Each of the dedicated lines and 171 isconnected to separate line responsive circuits 172 and 173, which may besimilar to the dedicated line circuitry shown in FIG. 7 and whichprovide enable logic conditions along the respective enable lines 174,175 when the respective dedicated line is off-hook. The AND gates 89 and98 associated with the shift inputs of the erase counter 111 and therecord counter 92 are connected through OR gates to the two enable lines174 and 175, so that both the erase counter and the record counter areenabled when either of the dedicated lines is off-hook. It will beunderstood that it may be desirable to provide appropriate crossovercontrol circuitry, schematically indicated at 176, so that an offhookcondition of one dedicated line is effective to render the otherdedicated line inoperative.

The interconnections between each of the erase counter output lines 1-4,and the set inputs of the corresponding erase flip-flops, is interruptedby the respective AND gates 177, 178, 179 and 180. The AND gate 177 isconnected to the enable line 174 of the first dedicated line, while eachof the AND gates 178-180 are connected to the enable line 175 associatedwith the second dedicated line.

The record counter output lines 14 are similarly interconnected with thecorresponding flip-flops by the AND gates 181-184. The AND gate 181 isconnected to the enable line 174, while the AND gates 182484 areconnected to the enable line 175. The audio circuit of the firstdedicated line 170 is connected by the line 185 to the record switchRS-l for the first message track, while the record switches associatedwith the remaining message tracks are connected by the line 186 toreceive audio signals from the second dedicated line.

Considering the operation of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 9, the erasecounter 111 and the record counter 92 are enabled and operated inresponse to either of the two dedicated lines becoming off-hook.Assuming that the first dedicated line 170 is off-hook, however, onlythe AND gate 177 assciated with the erase circuit for message track 1 iscompleted, and so only that first message track will actually be erasedduring the entire erase-record cycle. Similarly, only the AND gate 181associated with the record circuit for message track 1 is enabled inresponse to an enable signal condition on the line 174, and so only thatfirst message track can receive a new message dictated on the firstdedicated line. It will also be seen that an off-hook condition of h thesecond dedicated line 171 enables the remaining invention as defined inthe followingclaims.

What is claimed is: 1. Method of recording and delivering a message inplural segments, comprising the steps of:

recording a first message segment of certain duration and having a finalportion; I

recording a second message segment having an initial portion which isidentical both in content and in time of occurrence with said finalportion of said first message segment; delivering a composite messagecomprising serially reproduced first and second message segments withsynchronized concurrent reproduction ofsaid final portion of the firstmessage segment and said initial portion of the second message segment;and

transferring message segment delivery to said second message segment ata time during said synchronized concurrent reproduction.

2. Method as in claim 1, wherein said message segment delivery transferoccurs before termination of said final portion and after commencementof said initial portion.

3. Method as in claim 1, wherein said composite message deliverycomprises delivery of a first composite message; and

delivering a second composite message which comprises seriallyreproduced first and second message segments with synchronizedconcurrent reproduction of said final and initial portions of saidmessage segments, and with transfer of message segment delivery to saidsecond message segment occurring during synchronized concurrentreproduction; and commencing delivery of said second composite messageafter completing delivery of the first message segment of said firstcomposite message.

4. Method of determining the duration of a message, comprising the stepsof:

recording a message on a recording medium;

determining the time required to record said mesg subsequentlycommencing delivery of said recorded message;

determining the time elapsed since commencement of said messagedelivery; and

terminating said message delivery when said elapsed time is at leastequal to said time required to record said message. 5. Method as inclaim 4, wherein said time required to record the message is determinedby counting the number of equal time segments required to record saidmessage;

said determination of elapsed time is determined by counting equalplayback time segments occurring since commencement of said messagedelivery;

comparing the counted playback time segments with the previouslydetermined number of segments required to record said message; and

terminating said message delivery when said playback time count segmentbecomes as great as said record time. segment count.

.6 Method as in claim 4, further comprising:

generating repetitive signals corresponding to segments of time requiredfor recording and playback of said message;

determining the number of said repetitive signals occurring duringrecording of said message; counting the repetitive signals occurringduring said message delivery; and

terminating said message delivery when the number of repetitive signalsduring message delivery attains a predetermined relation to saiddetermined number of repetitive signals.

7. Method as in claim 4, wherein said recorded message comprises a firstmessage portion and a second message portion;

said recording time is the time required to record only said firstmessage portion;

said elapsed time is the time from commencement of message delivery tothe end of delivery of said first 7 recorded message portion; andterminating said message in response to said elapsed time equaling saidrecording time only if a certain signal condition exists.

8. Apparatus for providing a recorded message announcement, comprising:

first means operative to provide a first message segment;

second means operative to provide a second message segment having aninitial portion which is coincident with a final portion of said firstmessage segment;

control signal means responsive to operation of said first and secondmeans to provide a control signal condition during said coincidentportions of said first and second message segments; and

message delivery means selectively operative to deliver either of saidfirst and second message segments to a message delivery circuit andoperative in response to said control signal condition to terminatefirst message segment delivery and to commence delivery of said secondmessage segment.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said first and second message meansare operative to provide mutually synchronized respective messagesegments.

10. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said control signal means isoperative to provide said control signal condition at a time after saidinitial portion of said second message segment commences and before saidfinal protion of said first message segment terminates.

l 1. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said message delivery means is afirst message delivery means and said message delivery circuit is afirst message delivery circuit, and further comprising second messagedelivery means connected to receive said first and second messagesegments and selectively operative to deliver either of said messagesegments to a second message delivery circuit;

said control signal means is operative to provide a second controlsignal condition corresponding to termination of said first messagesegment; and said second message delivery means is operative in responseto said second control signal condition to commence delivery of saidfirst message segment and is operative in response to said first controlsignal condition to terminate delivery of said first message segment andcommence delivery of said second message segment.

12. Apparatus for delivering a recorded message of selectively variableduration, comprising:

message means operative to receive a recorded message not to exceed apredetermined maximum duration;

first circuit means operative to provide a plurality of timing signalsduring recording of the recorded message on said message means;

memory 'meansoperative to receive a signal condition from said firstcircuit means representing a timing signal count corresponding to ashortened time period less than said maximum duration;

second circuit means operative to provide a plurality of playback timingsignals during playback of said message recorded on said message means;

comparison means responsive to said playback timing signals and also tosaid signal condition of said 'memory means, said comparison meansoperative to provide a control signal condition in response to saidplayback timing signals indicating a time period equal to said shortenedtime period; and

message delivery means operatively associated with said message means tocontrol playback delivery of a message recorded thereon, said messagedelivery means being responsive to said control signal condition toterminate delivery of said shortened recorded message.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said message delivery'meansoperates to terminate said message delivery only in response to saidcontrol signal condition and the concurrent presence of another controlsignal condition.

14. Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein:

said timing signals provided by said first circuit means are repetitivesignals representing time seg- 1 ments of said maximum message duration;said memory means is connected to receive said time segment signalsduring said recording and is operative to provide a record length signalcondition;

said second circuit means is operative to receive said repetitive timesegment signals during said message delivery and to provide a deliverylength signal condition corresponding to the number of time segmentsignals occurring since the message delivery commenced;.and

said comparison means is operative to compare the time segment countsrepresented by said record length signal condition and said deliverylength signal condition, and is operative to provide said control signalcondition when the time segment count represented by said deliverylength signal condition is equal to the time segment count representedby said record length signal condition.

15. Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein:

said message means has a plurality of message segment tracks forrecording and repetitively delivering segments of a message;

said message delivery means is operative in response to said repetitiveoperation of said message means to supply said message segments to amessage delivery circuit in a predetermined sequence making up acomposite delivered message;

said memory means is operative to provide said record length signalcondition identifying the particular message segment track on which saidrecorded message terminates; and

said message delivery means is responsive to said control signalcondition from said comparison means and also to said record lengthsignal condition to terminate delivery of said shortened recordedmessage only in response to a signal condition indicating that themessage segment on said particular message segment track is beingsupplied to said message delivery circuit.

16. Apparatus as in claim 15, wherein:

said message delivery means is a first message delivery means and saidmessage delivery is a first message delivery circuit; and furthercomprising at least one other message delivery means operativelyassociated with said message means to supply said composite message to asecond message delivery circuit by a predetermined message segmentdelivery sequence which is offset in time relative to said deliverysequence of said first message delivery means; and

each of said message delivery means is responsive to said control signalcondition from said comparison means and also to said record lengthsignal condition to terminate delivery of the shortened recorded messageto a particular message delivery circuit only in response to a signalcondition indicating that the message segment on said particular messagesegment track is being delivered to said particular message deliverycircuit.

17. Apparatus for delivering a recorded message,

comprising:

message means operative periodically to provide a composite message madeup of plural sequential message segments, with the end portion of atleast one said message segment being coincident in time and identical incontent with the beginning portion of the next sequential messagesegment;

first message transducing means responsive to said message meansperiodically to provide a first message segment signal;

second message transducing means responsive to said message means toperiodically provide a second message segment signal;

control means responsive to periodic operation of said message means toprovide a playback control signal condition occurring at a time duringsaid coincident time; and

message delivery switching means connected to receive said first andsecond message segment signals and operative in response to said controlsignal condition to switch from delivery of said first message segmentsignal to delivery of said second message segment signal.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising:

message recording means operative to record a composite message on saidmessage means, said recorded composite message including first andsecond message segments;

record control means responsive to operation of said message means toprovide a record control signal condition during said coincident timeand prior to the time of occurrence of said playback control signalcondition;

said message recording means being operative in response to said recordcontrol signal condition to commence recording concurrently on both said

1. Method of recording and delivering a message in plural segments,comprising the steps of: recording a first message segment of certainduration and having a final portion; recording a second message segmenthaving an initial portion which is identical both in content and in timeof occurrence with said final portion of said first message segment;delivering a composite message comprising serially reproduced first andsecond message segments with synchronized concurrent reproduction ofsaid final portion of the first message segment and said initial portionof the second message segment; and transferring message segment deliveryto said second message segment at a time during said synchronizedconcurrent reproduction.
 2. Method as in claim 1, wherein said messagesegment delivery transfer occurs before termination of said finalportion and after commencement of said initial portion.
 3. Method as inclaim 1, wherein said composite message delivery comprises delivery of afirst composite message; and delivering a second composite message whichcomprises serially reproduced first and second message segments withsynchronized concurrent reproduction of said final and initial portionsof said message segments, and with transfer of message segment deliveryto said second message segment occurring during synchronized concurrentreproduction; and commencing delivery of said second composite messageafter completing delivery of the first message segment of said firstcomposite message.
 4. Method of determining the duration of a message,comprising the steps of: recording a message on a recording medium;determining the time required to record said message; subsequentlycommencing delivery of said recorded message; determining the timeelapsed since commencement of said message delivery; and terminatingsaid message delivery when said elapsed time is at least equal to saidtime required to record said message.
 5. Method as in claim 4, whereinsaid time required to record the message is determined by counting thenumber of equal time segments required to record said message; saiddetermination of elapsed time is determined by counting equal playbacktime segments occurring since commencement of said message delivery;comparing the counted playback time segments with the previouslydetermined number of segments required to record said message; andterminating said message delivery when said playback time count segmentbecomes as great as said record time segment counT.
 6. Method as inclaim 4, further comprising: generating repetitive signals correspondingto segments of time required for recording and playback of said message;determining the number of said repetitive signals occurring duringrecording of said message; counting the repetitive signals occurringduring said message delivery; and terminating said message delivery whenthe number of repetitive signals during message delivery attains apredetermined relation to said determined number of repetitive signals.7. Method as in claim 4, wherein said recorded message comprises a firstmessage portion and a second message portion; said recording time is thetime required to record only said first message portion; said elapsedtime is the time from commencement of message delivery to the end ofdelivery of said first recorded message portion; and terminating saidmessage in response to said elapsed time equaling said recording timeonly if a certain signal condition exists.
 8. Apparatus for providing arecorded message announcement, comprising: first means operative toprovide a first message segment; second means operative to provide asecond message segment having an initial portion which is coincidentwith a final portion of said first message segment; control signal meansresponsive to operation of said first and second means to provide acontrol signal condition during said coincident portions of said firstand second message segments; and message delivery means selectivelyoperative to deliver either of said first and second message segments toa message delivery circuit and operative in response to said controlsignal condition to terminate first message segment delivery and tocommence delivery of said second message segment.
 9. Apparatus as inclaim 8, wherein said first and second message means are operative toprovide mutually synchronized respective message segments.
 10. Apparatusas in claim 8, wherein said control signal means is operative to providesaid control signal condition at a time after said initial portion ofsaid second message segment commences and before said final protion ofsaid first message segment terminates.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 8,wherein said message delivery means is a first message delivery meansand said message delivery circuit is a first message delivery circuit,and further comprising second message delivery means connected toreceive said first and second message segments and selectively operativeto deliver either of said message segments to a second message deliverycircuit; said control signal means is operative to provide a secondcontrol signal condition corresponding to termination of said firstmessage segment; and said second message delivery means is operative inresponse to said second control signal condition to commence delivery ofsaid first message segment and is operative in response to said firstcontrol signal condition to terminate delivery of said first messagesegment and commence delivery of said second message segment. 12.Apparatus for delivering a recorded message of selectively variableduration, comprising: message means operative to receive a recordedmessage not to exceed a predetermined maximum duration; first circuitmeans operative to provide a plurality of timing signals duringrecording of the recorded message on said message means; memory meansoperative to receive a signal condition from said first circuit meansrepresenting a timing signal count corresponding to a shortened timeperiod less than said maximum duration; second circuit means operativeto provide a plurality of playback timing signals during playback ofsaid message recorded on said message means; comparison means responsiveto said playback timing signals and also to said signal condition ofsaid memory means, said comparison means operative to provide a controlsignal condition in response to said playback timing signals indicaTinga time period equal to said shortened time period; and message deliverymeans operatively associated with said message means to control playbackdelivery of a message recorded thereon, said message delivery meansbeing responsive to said control signal condition to terminate deliveryof said shortened recorded message.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 12,wherein said message delivery means operates to terminate said messagedelivery only in response to said control signal condition and theconcurrent presence of another control signal condition.
 14. Apparatusas in claim 12, wherein: said timing signals provided by said firstcircuit means are repetitive signals representing time segments of saidmaximum message duration; said memory means is connected to receive saidtime segment signals during said recording and is operative to provide arecord length signal condition; said second circuit means is operativeto receive said repetitive time segment signals during said messagedelivery and to provide a delivery length signal condition correspondingto the number of time segment signals occurring since the messagedelivery commenced; and said comparison means is operative to comparethe time segment counts represented by said record length signalcondition and said delivery length signal condition, and is operative toprovide said control signal condition when the time segment countrepresented by said delivery length signal condition is equal to thetime segment count represented by said record length signal condition.15. Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein: said message means has aplurality of message segment tracks for recording and repetitivelydelivering segments of a message; said message delivery means isoperative in response to said repetitive operation of said message meansto supply said message segments to a message delivery circuit in apredetermined sequence making up a composite delivered message; saidmemory means is operative to provide said record length signal conditionidentifying the particular message segment track on which said recordedmessage terminates; and said message delivery means is responsive tosaid control signal condition from said comparison means and also tosaid record length signal condition to terminate delivery of saidshortened recorded message only in response to a signal conditionindicating that the message segment on said particular message segmenttrack is being supplied to said message delivery circuit.
 16. Apparatusas in claim 15, wherein: said message delivery means is a first messagedelivery means and said message delivery is a first message deliverycircuit; and further comprising at least one other message deliverymeans operatively associated with said message means to supply saidcomposite message to a second message delivery circuit by apredetermined message segment delivery sequence which is offset in timerelative to said delivery sequence of said first message delivery means;and each of said message delivery means is responsive to said controlsignal condition from said comparison means and also to said recordlength signal condition to terminate delivery of the shortened recordedmessage to a particular message delivery circuit only in response to asignal condition indicating that the message segment on said particularmessage segment track is being delivered to said particular messagedelivery circuit.
 17. Apparatus for delivering a recorded message,comprising: message means operative periodically to provide a compositemessage made up of plural sequential message segments, with the endportion of at least one said message segment being coincident in timeand identical in content with the beginning portion of the nextsequential message segment; first message transducing means responsiveto said message means periodically to provide a first message segmentsignal; second message transducing means responsive to said messageMeans to periodically provide a second message segment signal; controlmeans responsive to periodic operation of said message means to providea playback control signal condition occurring at a time during saidcoincident time; and message delivery switching means connected toreceive said first and second message segment signals and operative inresponse to said control signal condition to switch from delivery ofsaid first message segment signal to delivery of said second messagesegment signal.
 18. Apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising:message recording means operative to record a composite message on saidmessage means, said recorded composite message including first andsecond message segments; record control means responsive to operation ofsaid message means to provide a record control signal condition duringsaid coincident time and prior to the time of occurrence of saidplayback control signal condition; said message recording means beingoperative in response to said record control signal condition tocommence recording concurrently on both said first and second messagesegments for a period of time extending beyond said time of occurrenceof said playback control signal condition.
 19. Apparatus as in claim 17,further comprising: control signal means operative to provide a sequenceof timing pulses in response to each periodic message segment of saidmessage means, with one of said timing pulses corresponding to thetermination of said first message segment and with an earlier occurringother said timing pulse corresponding to the initiation of said nextmessage segment, and with at least one delivery timing pulse occurringbetween said one and said other timing pulses; and said control meansbeing operative to provide said control signal condition in response tosaid delivery timing pulse.
 20. Apparatus as in claim 19, furthercomprising: message erase control means connected to receive a messageerase signal and operative in response to a message substitution signaland a timing pulse corresponding to the initiation of said one messagesegment to apply said message erase signal to said one message segment;said message erase control means thereafter being operative in responseto occurrence of said other timing pulse to apply said message erasesignal to said next message segment and to terminate said message erasesignal on said one message segment in response to said one timing pulse;message record control means connected to receive a new message signaland operative in response to said message substitution signal andtermination of said message erase signal on said one message segment toapply said new message signal to said one message segment; said messagerecord control means being thereafter responsive to occurrence of saidother timing pulse to apply said new message signal to said next messagesegment and to terminate said new message signal to said one messagesegment in response to said one timing pulse.